Raw Life

[This is a post from yesterday that I forgot to sumit]

Slavery ended like hundreds of years ago. Why is Africa still all screwed up? We've all seen those depressing Feed the Children Commercials. We hear the startling statistics about HIV, poverty, and hunger. 

How can countries that are often so rich in raw materials lag so far behind in comparison to countries in the West that only industrialize? You would think that they would be calling the shots in the world. But they don't.

Is this what you think of when you think of Africa? Yea, so did I. I'll admit it. What else do you expect? Our minds are flooded with images such as this one, so naturally we have a stereotypical perception of an entire continent that very few of us has ever visited. I must say that after being in Ghana only 4 days, these are the most friendly, respectful, well-mannered, honorable people I have ever met. Ghanaian Lesson #2: Study to Show Thyself Approved; never take anything for face value, always ask questions. There are reasons behind everything. Trust. 

Today, we had a lecture by the former mayor of Ghana (I think) Mr. Nat Amarteifio who is now a professor at NYU in Ghana. The lecture was entitled Society and Culture in Ghana. The whole thing was pretty informative, but what stuck out to me was what he told us about Ghana's raw materials. Ghana is rich in gold, cocoa, and recently oil. [Keep Nigeria's current oil crisis in mind] In case you are unfamiliar with the import/export system, in very simple terms countries like Ghana provide the raw materials like pure gold, cocoa, and oil that is otherwise useless unless one has access to the technology to convert them into the finished products that we identify them as. For example, those ghetto bamboo earrings chickenheads like to wear, chocolate bars, or gasoline. To make a very long and complicated story short, organizations like the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank have helped countries like Ghana get into a cycle of debt and dependence so they can never attain the means to actually control their own raw materials and convert them into finished products. I guess that would give them too much power. So perpetuates the cycle. [I knew I couldn't come to Africa and not leave with a conspiracy theory. We'll see how it develops throughout my time here.]

Next topic: Malaria. It has to be the single most popular topic of conversation amongst people who HAVE NEVER BEEN TO AFRICA, but seem to want to advise me on how best to live my life here. "Don't drink the water!" "Don't eat any salads!" "Watch out for mosquitos!" First of all, yes you can die from untreated malaria. Just like someone can die from a really bad case of the flu. Native Ghanaians, having grown up in this environment, have built up an immunity to malaria. It is obviously more of an issue for someone like myself who is not exposed to the disease. Anyway, we had a consultation with a local doctor who basically assured us it was nowhere near as serious as the doctors and medical staff in NY had made it seem. Malaria = fever, chills, other cold symptoms, maybe diarrhea. They make it seem like malaria is a fate worse than death. More Western misconceptions. Another thing, all these damn meds. My carry-on bag is full of bottles of pills that will keep me "healthy" in Ghana. Americans are trained to pop pills for every little thing. Here, it's more about letting your body work things out. Eat the right foods, drink plenty of clean water, get rest etc.

The highlight of today: we went to Osu which was like... umm picture Chinatown but replace the Chinese people with Africans -- and make them more aggressive. Yeah, that is Osu. First of all, we are driving toward the area and automatically people start coming up to our van holding up statues, sandals, oranges - pretty much anything trying to sell it to us through the bus? Anyway, they were on some paparazzi status when we actually got off the bus and pretty much MOBBED us. The idea out here is that America = $$$ so telling them you're actually a broke college student from Washington Heights struggling to pay for your three kids' daycare bills and paying your boyfriend's child support really wouldn't matter. You have money because you live in America. It started to get a little annoying. They were driving us crazy. Well, not THAT crazy... 

Our entire time there was a barrage of hustling and negotiating. They followed me and a few of my friends from the bus to a restaurant called Papaye (very good. And a lot of food for only 5 cedis) and waited for us outside. LOL when we came out they were there ready to try to sell us stuff. It took us about 45 minutes to walk a distance that should have taken us about 5 minutes. People kept shoving stuff at us: bracelets, statues, sandals, juice, sunglasses, pretty much everything under the sun. We stuck out like sore thumbs. Walking through the streets attracting maad attention. At first it was overwhelming, but you get used to it. The people are incredible aggressive, but not dangerous or intimidating. Oh yeah, we found out you can get a wash and set for 1.5 - 4 cedis! When I told someone women in NY get their hair done for $20 and call it a deal she scoffed at me lol. Osu is a pretty tourist heavy area so I saw a few pale faces in the crowds. Overall a very interesting day. It was the first time we've really mingled with normal everyday Ghanaians. Everyone else we've met has been affiliated in some way with NYU in Ghana. So, it was a good look.

medaase = thank you